Divine Illumination

Now, I’ve never heard anyone preach on this before, at least not in this manner. I’ve read the story of the feeding of the 5000 many times before, and I’ve always thought of how great it would have been to be there that day to see the miracle happen. But I wonder if I would have seen it as a miracle?

The crowd didn’t see it as a miracle. All they could see was that they were receiving bread and fish from one of Jesus’ disciples. I can imagine that the vast majority didn’t even know that it all started with 2 small fish and 5 loaves of bread. How could they know it was a miracle happening to them?

Perhaps some of the disciples didn’t know how much they had begun with either. All they knew is that the bread and fish just kept coming. Maybe the disciples passing it down the hill had found more and didn’t tell them.

But there should have been at least a few of the disciples should have seen it as a miracle. They knew what Jesus had blessed. They knew it wasn’t nearly enough to feed the crowd of people, and yet when it began to multiply right before their eyes, it’s almost as though they just took it for granted, because not one is recorded as stopping, even for a moment, to recognize the miracle in progress.

It’s amazing to look back at the story now and see just how spiritually blind and ignorant the disciples really were. They had walked with Jesus, talked with Jesus, and seen him do some mighty works, but somehow, they just didn’t see Him for who He was. They needed some Spiritual Illumination. Without the Holy Spirit opening your mind, and helping you to understand and see the Hand of God at work, you won’t see it for what it is. You will take everything that happens for granted because your eyes are spiritually blind.

That’s the same reason that the world doesn’t see Jesus for who He is. That’s the same reason that most of the church world doesn’t see the Hand of God at work in their midst either. It’s because both are in need of some Divine Illumination. They need the Holy Ghost inside to open their hearts and minds to understand what God is doing.

How do I know this is what happened? How can I know that the disciples didn’t recognize the full lesson of the feeding of the 5000?

Let’s read a little further in Mark chapter 6 to see what happens next and hear what the Word of the Lord is saying to us this morning.

Mark 6:45-52, "And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened."